After storming from the back of the pack to third place, Hamilton jumped on his private jet and headed to London. He spent the evening playing with his dogs Roscoe and Coco in Regent’s Park before heading out to dinner with his mother Carmen Lockhart. The 31-year-old was sporting a broad grin, and who could blame him? Hamilton has long feared the engine penalties – which have been looming over him since the opening rounds of the season – would derail his bid to win a third consecutive title. But after losing only 10 points to Rosberg following a superb recovery drive, the Englishman still remains in charge of his own destiny. Yet, after his brilliant showing at Spa, Hamilton admitted he was not anticipating such a strong result. “If you go into Christmas Day expecting stuff, at some stage you are going to be disappointed that you got shoelaces instead of a car,” said Hamilton. “That is how I am.”

Not for the first time in his career, Hamilton’s heroics left Rosberg in the shade – despite sealing his sixth victory of the season. The German attempted to remain upbeat after the race, taking a behind-the-scenes podium selfie with Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo while joking that he could not believe Hamilton had finished third. “I saw ‘HAM’ in P3 and I was like, ‘What?’ ‘Seriously?’,” Rosberg said. A brave face perhaps, but the German will know that Hamilton’s grid penalty was his golden opportunity to take a hefty chunk out of his rival’s title lead. Reducing the deficit by just 10 points will be considered somewhat of a failure.

Kevin Magnussen expects to take part in this week’s Italian GP despite a harrowing crash in Belgium. The Danish
driver lost control of his Renault through Eau Rouge at 180mph before crashing into a tyre wall. Mercifully, he emerged with only a cut to his ankle. Renault team principal Fred Vasseur said: “I have the feeling he had huge wheelspin on the kerb, but let’s see about the reasons. We have to take time to analyse exactly what has happened.”

Jenson Button will want to forget what could be his final appearance in an F1 car in Belgium. The 2009 world champion, who is fighting for his future in the sport, was punted out of the race in the opening exchanges by the Manor of Pascal Wehrlein. “We looked really good for points, so it’s disappointing,” said Button, who started from ninth. “Pascal made contact with me at Turn Five. There was a lot of damage.”

Clubs

Horner defends Verstappen's 'on the edge' driving

Verstappen has come in for criticism from Kimi Raikkonen for his defensive driving at Spa-Francorchamps, with the Finn saying he will cause “a massive accident” at some stage. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was also concerned by Verstappen’s driving, saying “it’s refreshing but it’s dangerous”, but Horner feels the Dutchman was on the right side of the robust.

“I’m surprised that Toto’s commenting on something that’s got nothing to do with him, but I think it was firm, it was on the edge, he got away with it today, the Stewards were happy with it,” Horner said. “So if there were to be an issue or a conflict of any rules I’m sure Danny Sullivan’s an experienced guy, he would have called them up or Charlie Whiting would have reported it to the Stewards.

“There was no action from the Stewards, when he looked back at it, it was on the edge, and obviously he got away with it today. I’m sure he’ll have a look at it and learn for future races.”

Asked if he is concerned there are too many occasions Verstappen is on the edge, Horner replied: “With all of these things, what goes around comes around.

“So the drivers tend to sort these things out on the circuit, Max has pushed the limit today, he’s been right on the limit, the referee’s happy with it. So no further comments from us.

“I’m sure it was right on the edge, I’m sure he’ll have a look at it and learn from it, but it was right on the limit.”

When asked if he had spoken to Verstappen following the race, Horner joked: “Yeah I told him not to tell anyone where he’s staying in Monza because I’m sure there’s some angry Italians.

“As I say, if there was a major issue with it, the Stewards would have pulled him up. We’ve seen that before, he was on the limit, he’s young, all the seriously ambitious and gifted drivers have that streak within them.

“I remember Sebastian getting criticised here a few years ago, there’s been a few other drivers as history’s demonstrated that have shown that fighting spirit, and I think that’s why it’s part of that fighting spirit which is why there’s been such a big crowd here.”

Clubs

Rosberg wins Belgian Grand Prix

Rosberg’s delight was reduced by his Mercedes team-mate Hamilton’s damage-limiting and thrilling drive to finish on the podium after starting from the back row of the grid.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo finished second in his Red Bull.

The 31-year-old Rosberg, who started from his third successive pole position, led from start to finish in a 44-laps race fractured by accidents and incidents to secure his first victory in Belgium and his sixth of the season.

Hamilton, who started 21st after being handed 60 grid position penalties for taking three new power-units through the weekend, remains narrowly ahead of Rosberg in the title race with 232 points to his 223.

German Nico Hulkenberg finished fourth ahead of his Force India team-mate Sergio Perez, as the Silverstone-based team overhauled rivals Williams in the constructors’ championship.

Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari recovered from a first-corner collision with his own team-mate Kimi Raikkonen to take sixth ahead of Fernando Alonso, who had started 22nd on the grid.

Valtteri Bottas was eighth for Williams ahead of Raikkonen and Brazilian Felipe Massa.

The race was halted in the early stages when Dane Kevin Magnussen crashed heavily, but he limped away from his wrecked Renault car with only a damaged ankle.